smilliegal

I have trouble with fried chicken which I adore, or just any kind of meat or poultry that isn't soft or in a sauce. I have trouble with bread, asparagus, pasta. The bread and pasta I don't miss, but I would love to have fried chicken without cutting it into fingernail size pieces. I have trouble with Chinese food - basically cause I love it and eat it too quickly without cutting it up enough. I do real well with crackers, tunafish, taco and seafood salad that I buy already made at the grocery store. I do well with cheese and cottage cheese and any kind of soft food. Most vegetable are OK and fruit if I'm careful. I often wonder if I'm getting enough whole grains and good carbs. And of course I can get down any kind of junk food no matter what form it comes in which is such a puzzle. I eat best my myself and have to be careful about eating with people esp. my family - kinda weird but I forget to concentrate on eating carefully when I'm watching them scarf down their food.

I love this band. I've lost 50 lbs and could have lost more except for a serious back surgery that has captured my attention for the past 4 months and sidelined my loss. I'm back in the game and so appreciative that I'm not consumed by my desire for food. I have to eat less and eat more slowly and this is such a terrific tool. I watch friends and family as they focus on their food, they are drawn to food and it takes center stage for them as it did for me most of my life. I am overwhelmed by thanksgiving that I have this tool that gives me a check, that slows the speed of consumption and makes me give up foods that I cannot get down - and - I've learned to be OK with this - food is no longer a god to me that I worship. I can't wait to see what this new year will bring.

I also have the same experience with pressure and things getting stuck and actually have trouble eating with my family. I really noticed more difficulty when my kids came home from college for the summer. When I talked about this with my doctor he said when I start feeling pressure I should stop eating and not return to the table. Usually once the pressure eases I just return and keep eating very slowly - by this time I'm eating by myself, and it's easier. But he said to just let it go - I guess like the rest of you have said - it's a matter of learning to eat alot less and being OK with that. Head hunger is such a huge issue to get over. Smilliegal

I hit 230 this afternoon. Thanks Juliegeraci for encouraging me last week to lose those two pounds. It was really encouraging to have someone just a step ahead. I've been faithfully exercising at Curves about 4 times a week and eating right. I'm excited to hit this milestone. Smilliegal

Hi ELJMOM, I have Aetna and did the 6 month diet. It was kind of a pain but also gave me time to research my decision and made me realize again how hard it is to lose wgt. and how easy it is to gain it right back when you're only depending on your own willpower. I lost about 10 pounds which let my surgeon and Aetna know I was serious about losing although I didn't kill myself dieting by any means. I also took my time getting the tests done - it took me 9 months to complete everything due to my busy work schedule. Once all the tests were completed Aetna OK'd my surgery in a week - that was really cool! Good luck - the time passes quickly. Smilliegal

Hi, These have been great answers to this question about eating out. I've been banded three months today with two fills - about 1.5cc total and lately I've been having a lot of trouble eating with other people. I do OK with my husband, esp. if I'm not facing him across the table but maybe eating in front of the TV (like you're not supposed to do). If I'm eating with people at a table situation I seem to get stressed and pace myself to them and get in trouble with too big of bites and not enough chewing. My two kids are coming home from college in a month and I'm kinda nervous about getting food stuck all the time in front of them. Do any of you do better eating by yourself? Smilliegal

Congratulations on hitting 230. I'm at 232 and can't wait for the 230 milestone either. Smilliegal

Hi bandsters - this may be a stupid question but I've been experiencing a pinched nerve kind of pain in my upper right back and radiating to my right arm causing slight weakness in my hand for the past two weeks unrelieved by massage or chiropractic. I've been banded since January with two fills and all is going well. Has anyone ever heard of any complication of this type with banding? This is way out in left field but before I spend more money in doctor bills or blame it all on my "mouse technique" , I thought I would get some opinions from "those in the know". It's really irritating and I know sometimes pain is referred from problems elsewhere. Thanks for your suggestions. Smilliegal :help:

I'd like to join the exercise challenge. I go to Curves at least 3 - 4 times a week depending on my work schedule. Last week I went 6 times. This week only twice but next week will be another story. Smilliegal

Hi Helena, I also went thru a 6 month supervised diet program connected with the hospital I went to and it was good to have the diet and all the tests done by the bariatric center. It was very convenient and I developed a good working relationship with the staff. The diet was kind of a formality for insurance purposes but I did lose close to 10 pounds so that was good. I don't think you have to worry about losing too much - it just shows you are serious about doing what it takes and will use the band as tool. I'm envious of you only having a 12 week diet - it took me 9 months to get all my pre-op testing done. (hectic life) I felt like I was having a baby but just like a pregnancy, the results will be totally worth the wait. The surgery was no big deal at all. Good luck to you!! Smilliegal

Thanks BabyGotBack, creamy pea soup sounds like a wonderful idea and I have some lentil on hand too. Smilliegal

Congrats PeaCeJ, I was also banded on the 15th with good success so far. I know what you mean about getting enough protein and water down. I'm afraid when I go back to work I won't have enough time to work and drink at the same time. Keep in touch with your progress!! Smilliegal

Hi January Bandsters, I got banded on 15th and so far everything has been pretty smooth. It's kind of a challenge to get enough protein in but I can usually make it to 50 grams. I do two protein shakes, morning and night and add dry milk powder and 1/2 cup of skim milk and try to do a broth or cream soup at lunch. Any other ideas to boost the protein?? Last night I drove to the mall to exchange some Christmas presents and that was OK but maybe not the wisest decision. I'm just not used to being home so much and am starting to get a little restless so now I'm cleaning and doing laundry. Thankfully I start back to one of my jobs on Monday and the other the Feb. 1st (more physical). I'm really enjoying this website and have learned alot by reading everyone's entries. Smilliegal

Shesha, I have used the ready made EAS AdvantEdge vanilla, chocolate fudge and strawberry esp. during the pre-op phase when I had to drive my daughter back to college and was on the road for four days. They're pretty good. Now post-op and with more time I'm using Whole Foods Whey Protein powder in skim milk with ice cubes and flavorings in the blender. I may add additional dry milk tomorrow. Today was my first day home post-op so I'm still experimenting. Smilliegal

Good luck to you tomorrow. I was banded on the 15th and the experience was actually almost pleasant. Nice hospital experience, great roommate, not alot of pain and I'm feeling pretty good. It sure is good to be on the post-op side instead of pre-op. Keep us posted. Smilliegal

Hi Mysrock, I was banded Monday morning, Jan 15th and it was actually a pretty neat experience. Of course I have a nursing background so I like being around hospitals but I was impressed with the whole experience. I stayed overnight and actually the whole next day because the surgeon didn't get in to release me until 6PM. I took pain medication in the recovery room and the evening of surgery but after that switched to Tylenol with Codeine which I had about 4 doses of on Tues and Weds. Now since Wednesday afternoon I'm on plain Tylenol. I was nauseated only once after the post-op Upper GI test to check for band placement. I walked alot in the hospital and just got off the treadmill and am feeling really good - just a little pulling on the incisions when I get out of a chair or something. The gas pains weren't bad either but I didn't have anything much in my stomach and gave myself a Fleets enema the night before just to be sure. I see the big challenge for me will be staying on clear and full liquids for two weeks - I'm sure that's going to get old fast esp. after being mainly on liquids pre-op. But all in all - it was much better than I expected and I would encourage you to continue the process. It took me nine months to go thru all the testing and medically supervised diet for insurance purposes. I work two jobs and getting everything done was kinda difficult but just like giving birth - the end result will be well worth the wait. I salute you for your persistence. Good luck and blessings. Smilliegal:)

Tomorrow 1-15 is my banding day and I really appreciate reading the responses of all you with prayers and good wishes for those of us who are still getting banded. Such great companionship on this journey to being "fit and normal." I can't wait for more energy and less joint pain. It makes my mild apprehension about the procedure well worth it. It also helps me deal with no caffeine and no wine. I'm not sure how long after banding I can hold out - even half a cup of coffee would get me through the day. Does anyone drink coffee or wine with the band? Smilliegal:phanvan

Hi from from Smilliegal, I'm scheduled for January 15th and finished all my preop labs yesterday. 6th day into the preop diet and already 7 lbs down. My doctor is Jonathan Spitz out of Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, IL, Glad to talk to other January bandsters. Good luck to you all. Smilliegal

Hi Karen, my name is Bette and I'll be banded on January 15th. Today is my 5th day on the pre-op diet and I saw my surgeon, Dr. Spitz and my primary doc for all the pre-op tests. I've lost 7lbs which is probably all water but it's pretty encouraging just the same. Kinda makes up for losing the caffeine and the Ibuprophen I've lived on for a long time. I know what you mean - I'm very excited but also have the fear of the unknown going on. I work two jobs and my life is a little chaotic. I'm a little worried about how long it takes to eat and chew and all that new stuff. I think there is a January group we should find. Good luck to you, Bette :clap2:

It's interesting and a little scary to read everyone's entries. I''m scheduled for Lap Band on January 15th at Central DuPage Hospital, Winfield IL with Dr. Jonathan Spitz. This has been a process starting the end of March but my insurance has come thru and my kids go back to college in early January and I'll be ready to take the plunge. I have two questions. The first is about work and how long people took off. My first job is a church secretary - in Youth ministries mainly and although I sit on a computer most of the time, it can get stressful - lots of needy people. I'm taking off a week at this job. My second job is at the circulation desk of my local library - 16 hours a week. I'm taking off til the end of January cause it is more physical with standing and bending over alot. Is this being realistic because as I read post-op entries it sounds like the first couple weeks can be pretty hard. My second question is about no Ibuprophen before surgery. Did any of you have a hard time being off certain meds pre-op. I have lupus joint pain and use Ibuprophen morning and evening to get thru the day. The thought of only taking Tylenol which does nothing for me is very scary :faint: with two jobs and trying to exercise. Do any of you take Ibuprophen or Advil post-op? Thanks for any enlightenment you can give me. Smilliegal:nervous

Hi Vannav12 and Marjon9, I'm getting banded on January 15th. It will be great to have companions on this journey of fighting the fat in our heads as well as on our bodies. Best wishes and keep posting Smilliegal